CVE-2018-2686 in VM VirtualBox
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox component of Oracle Virtualization (subcomponent: Core). Supported versions that are affected are Prior to 5.1.32 and Prior to 5.2.6. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with logon to the infrastructure where Oracle VM VirtualBox executes to compromise Oracle VM VirtualBox. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in Oracle VM VirtualBox, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of Oracle VM VirtualBox. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 8.6 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2686 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle VM VirtualBox's Core component that has significant implications for virtualization environments. This vulnerability affects specific versions of Oracle Virtualization software prior to 5.1.32 and 5.2.6, making it particularly concerning for organizations that have not updated their virtualization infrastructure. The flaw resides in the underlying virtualization engine that manages virtual machine operations and system resources, creating a potential entry point for malicious actors who have already gained access to the host infrastructure where VirtualBox operates.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and potential memory corruption issues within the VirtualBox Core subsystem. Attackers can exploit this weakness through a carefully crafted sequence of operations that manipulate the virtualization environment's internal state. The vulnerability requires an attacker to already have logon access to the host system where Oracle VM VirtualBox is installed, which aligns with the CVSS vector's AV:L classification indicating local attack vector. However, the impact extends beyond the immediate virtualization platform as the vulnerability can compromise additional products that depend on or interact with the compromised VirtualBox environment, creating a cascading effect that can affect the entire virtual infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, as it provides attackers with the capability to completely take over Oracle VM VirtualBox operations. This takeover can result in full system compromise where attackers gain complete control over the virtualization platform and all virtual machines running within it. The CVSS 3.0 Base Score of 8.6 reflects the high severity of this flaw, with all three impact metrics rated as high - Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. The vulnerability's ability to affect additional products through the compromised VirtualBox environment demonstrates how virtualization platforms can serve as critical attack vectors that can impact entire enterprise infrastructures. The requirement for human interaction from someone other than the attacker suggests that social engineering or physical access scenarios could enable exploitation, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where security controls are not properly enforced.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations that include updating to the patched versions of Oracle VM VirtualBox, specifically versions 5.1.32 and 5.2.6 or later. The vulnerability's classification under CWE categories related to input validation and memory safety issues indicates that proper sanitization of user inputs and robust error handling mechanisms should be implemented. Security teams should also consider network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, as the vulnerability requires initial access to the host system. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, as attackers could leverage this flaw to maintain persistent access and avoid detection within the virtualized environment. Additionally, implementing proper monitoring and logging of VirtualBox operations can help detect potential exploitation attempts and provide early warning of compromise.